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May 18, 1937. w. L. THOMPSON METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING FULL FASHIONED KNIT STOCKINGS Filed July 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 18, 1937. w THQMFSQN 2,080,796

- METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING FULL FASHIONED KNIT STOCKINGS Filed July 26, 1934 5 Sheets$heet 2 mampsoq,

HoHN-U y 1937. w. L. THOMPSON I 2,080,796

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING FULL FASHIONED KNIT STOCKINGS Filed July 26, 1934 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jawcnfom Patented May 18, 1937 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING FULL FASHIONED KNIT STOCKINGS William Lewis Thompson, Miami, Fla. Application July 26, 1934, Serial No. 737,128

32 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of full fashioned stockings and concerns particularly the manufacture of a complete stocking in a series of successive operations on a single straight needie bank machine. The essential object of the invention is to provide a. novel method and mechanism which may be readily employed with a legger machine of conventional design to produce thereon both the stocking leg and foot without requiring any change in construction of the knitting and other essential mechanisms of the machine.

It has heretofore been proposed to make an entire full fashioned stocking ona single straight knitting machine provided with suitable narrowing tackle for the formation of the stocking toe by constructing the machine with a divided needle bar wherein the middle section is movable to withdraw the instep of the stocking away from no the line of knitting during the formation of the heel tabs. As illustrative of such an arrangement reference is made to United States patents to Gebers No. 1,534,311, dated April 21st, 1925, and Lieberknecht No. 1,901,757, dated March 14th, 0 1933. Such patents, while producing a stocking substantially identical in construction and shape with a full fashioned stocking made in two separate operations on a logger and a footer machine, are open to the serious objection from the economic standpoint that they involve special types of machines or at least necessitate the complete rebuilding of the conventional legger. For these reasons manufacturers have not been able to make stockings in the continuous process proposed without installing completely new equipment or rebuilding their regular equipment at great expense. Furthermore, the construction of a needle bar as a series of sections at least one of which is movable relative to the others is likely to result in the needles. becoming out of alignment at undesired times during the course of knitting, with the consequent production of stockings in which the courses are defective or streaky.

The present invention has the great advantage over the patents referred to in that the stocking may be knit in successive operations on the conventional legger machine now used in practically all mills, and this merely with the addition of relatively simple mechanism forming a part of the invention which may be installed as an attachment. The proposed method and mechanism of the invention are also more flexible in use, in that while according to the patents the heel tabs must be knit first with the subsequent production of the foot, the invention enables either the heel tabs or foot to be knit before the other.

The patent to Meier No. 1,912,005, dated May 30th, 1933, discloses a mechanism for addition to the usual legger machine for producing a complete stocking thereon and which does not require a divided needle bar. Such patent employs a special transfer bar commensurate in width with the instep fabric with which are associated two hinged side bars carrying a series of slidable points. Such side bars are arranged normal to the needle bank during the knittin of the heel tabs so that the points therein may be progressively punchedthrough the inside selvage fabric of the tabs as successive courses thereof are knit, and the side members are then swung into alignment. with the transfer bar to transfer the instep fabric (previously removed) and the selvages of the heel onto the needle bank for the subsequent knitting of the foot. A serious difiicultyin such patented construction resides in the practical impossibility of piercing the points of the side bar through the proper .loops in the inner selvages of the heel tabs with any degree of accuracy and while the heel tabs are entirely unsupported except through the tension created in the fabric engaged by the needle bank through the take-up mechanism of the machine. A poor connection is therefore likely to result between the heel tabs and the sole portions of the foot with the accompanying danger of runs. The proposed mechanism and process of Meier is not conducive to the production of perfect stockings, and like the patents previously discussed the heel tabs must in all cases be necessarily knit prior to the formation of the foot.

According to the present'invention the stocking is knit down tothe instep and the last knit course is removed as a whole from the needles to withdraw the instep and the adjoining beginning portions of the heel. The beginning heel portions or the instep area is then transferred back onto the needles while the other is held away from the knitting line. If the instep area. is the one returned to the needles the whole foot portion is then knit, and after completion the two edge portions of the blank are then re-transferred to the needles and the heel tabs knit. After the removal of the complete knitted course in the original operation, alternative procedure may be followed of first transferring back the edge areas of the blank while withholding the instep area. In such event the heel tabs will beknit and completed, and subsequently the instep area transferred back to the needles and the foot knit as the last operation.

To carry out the method in, either of the phases Just described special fabric manipulatingmechanism is provided comprising a three-section running-01f or transfer bar. The middle section will be provided with a series of points adapted to manipulate the instep-fabric and the two side sections will be constructed with identical points in continuation of the points of the middle section and adapted to coactwith the needles of the machine to remove therefrom and transfer back thereto the side heel portions of the stocking blank which bound the instep area. The three sections of the transfer bar are arranged to belocked together in alignment for simultaneous manipulation of the complete width of the stocking blank, but are also arranged and mounted tobe shiftable one independently of the other to enable the transfer back to the needles of the side heel areas and the instep independently of each other. In short the proposed transfer bar 'will be so constructed that the various sections thereof may be manipulated as a unit or independently with reference to the bank of knitting needles so that the stocking may be knit complete with heel tabs and foot. In order to allow stockings of different instep widths to be completed, a simple and novel arrangement is provided for adjusting the length of the instep transfer bar section, and to compensate for length variation in the center bar section the side bar sections are mounted for longitudinal adjustment.

The invention has particular utility in th manufacture of full fashioned stockingson a single machine. It will be evident however that the invention may be employed in the knitting of other fabrics where, after a designated course has been reached, it is desired to knit extensions, either overlapping or otherwise, of diflerent character on to different transverse areas of the incompleted fabric blank.

Again, the mechanism illustrated-in the drawings and hereafter to be described constitutes an embodiment of the invention particularly suitable for the manipulation of a stocking instep to enable the foot and heel portions to be knit thereto in separate operations. Such mechanism involves a transfer bar made up of a central section and two simultaneously operable side sections. For the manipulation of other fabrlcs than a stocking, it may be essential to constitute the transfer bar with less or more than three sections, and it will therefore be understood that the invention is comprehensive,and is directed generally to fabric manipulating mechanism comprising a plurality of cooperative transfer bar sections independently operative to withdraw from the return to a needle bank of a knitting machine different transverse areas of an incompleted fabric blank for the knitting in successive stages of independent extensions on to. the several fabric areas, all on the same machine.

The utility, benefits, and manner of practicing the invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism of the invention as applied to a flat, full fashioned hosiery machine, only one section of the machine being shown and the conventional yarn carriers, sinkers, dividers, and narrowing tackle being omitted for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the three section transfer bar forming a part of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device shown in Fi 3;-

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, of a portion of the operating mechanism found inFig. 2;

Figs. 60-6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the successive operating stages of the transfer mechanism for the production of the heel tabs and foot portion, and under which the heel tabs are produced first;

Figs. Ia-7f illustrate a further manner of manipulating an incomplete stocking blank, wherein the operative stages are carried out in a different order from that of Figures 6a through 6) to provide for the knitting of the foot portion prior to the knitting of the heel tabs;

Figs. 8a, 8b, and 8d illustrate the position of the various sections of the transfer mechanism with relation to the needle bank in certain, of

the operating stages shown in Figs. 6a through 6, andFigs. 7a through 7); and 3 Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a stocking blank showing particularly the foot portion and heel tabs as produced according to either of the procedures illustrated respectively in Figs. 6a through 6 and Figs. 7a through 7 In Fig. 1 is illustrated one section of a flat knitting machine having a straight needle bank Hi. The narrowing tackle and various other conventional operating parts of the machine essential to the knitting of fabric are omitted as their function and operation is well known.

The machine illustrated will ordinarily con stitute a so-called legger, and the only mechanism other than the apparatus to be described which will be necessary to enable the machine to make a complete full fashioned stocking will be toe narrowing tackle such as provided on the usual footer machine.

My invention may be either installed as an attachment on any of the various types of legger machines, or built into a new machine. In any case, however, it is important to know that no modification is necessary in the knitting mechanism, and that the needle bank In is an integral unit having no separable portions.

The leg of the stocking is knitted on the machine in the conventional manner down to the instep line in the conventional manner. During such time the fabric manipulation mechanism of the invention is inoperative. Such manipulating mechanism constitutes a transfer bar which, as shown in Figs. land 3, is composed of a center section II and two additional sections i2 and i3 which are arranged-end to end So that the rows of transfer points carried by the respective sections .will form a continuous aligned series. The center section II is intended to remove the instep area of the stocking from the needle bank, and the opposing end sections I2 tabs.

It is essential therefore that the center transfer bar section and the coacting end bar sections be separate and free to move independently of each other. That is to say, in order that the central portion of the instep course of the stocking may be manipulated independently of the edge portions, the center bar section II must be supported independently of bar sections l2 and I3. It may, as shown in the drawings, be secured to a bracket l'l carried by a supporting rod I8.

All of the transfer bar sections must be capable of movement in a vertical plane to engage the needles of the bank Ill, both to remove fabric being knit therefrom and reposition fabric on the needles for further knitting. .The bar sections must also be capable of movement in a transverse plane to laterally shift portions of the fabric removed out of the range of the various knitting instrumentalities. The spaced edge bar sections which are connected together through the supporting rod it since they are in-' tended to operate independently of the center bar section must be capable of transverse movement independently of the latter, and the center bar section must also be capable of transverse movement independently of the edge sections.

One arrangement for carrying out the requirements just stated is illustrated in the figures. The edge sections i2 and i3 of the transfer bar are supported through their carrying rod is in a series of blocks 19 at opposite ends of the needle bank. Said blocks are shown resting on a frame member 20 which supports the same with the transfer bar sections in their lowermost operating position in engagement with the needle bank. The blocks l9 can be raised from their rests 26 to lift the points from the needles to remove fabric therefrom and may at the appropriate time be lowered to transfer the fabric back on the needles. To provide for transverse movement of the edge bar sections, they may be mounted in slidable relation with their supporting blocks l9. To this end the carrier rod it may be supported by arms M which are mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly through the blocks, the latter arrangement being best shown in Fig. 5. While 'the carrier rods may be moved transversely by manual operation, an arrangement is shown for actuating the same mechanically. As shown the arms 2i are toothed on one surface to engage gears 22 carried in the blocks l9 and supported on an actuating shaft 23. By providing a driving connection, operable under suitable control mechanism, of the shaft 23 witha suitable rotating shaft in the machine, it is possible to cause shaft 23 to move-arms 2i and hence the transfer bar sections l2 and i3 forwardly and rearwardly in a direction transversely to the needle bank in.

To effect vertical movement of the transfer bar sections 52 and it, the blocks 89 may be connected to suitable actuating arms 2d which are movable to raise and lower the bar sections movement of the arms may at all times be controlled by the cams 25.

The center transfer bar section ii is similarly mounted for movement both vertically and transversely with respect to the needle bank. Since the same must be operable independent of the edge transfer bar sections, separate supporting blocks are provided carrying slidable toothed arms 3| which support the center bar section by being connected with its carrier rod H8. The blocks 30 rest on the frame member 32 and are actuatable through movable arms 33 also supported by blocks 21 and operable through cams 34 on the rotatable shaft 26. The center bar ll through the slidable arms 3i may be moved forwardly and rearwardly through a shaft 35 under an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 5, and vertical movement is imparted to raise and lower fabric onto the needle bank through cams 34, just described.

The details of construction of the complete transfer bar will be best understood from Figs. 3

and 4. At certain times the center and two edge bar sections of the transfer mechanism will operate as a unit to simultaneously engage the needle bank. It is important under such circumstances that the three sections, which as above pointed out are supported for independent movement, must be in absolute alignment with each other,

Suitable locking mechanism istherefore provided.

which may be operated at such times to interconnect the edge bar sections l2 and IS with the center section H. A separable form of mechanism of such character is shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

the same comprising slidable grooved members 36. Such members are supported adjacent the end of the center bar section H and slidablelongitudinally thereof to engage and interconnect longitudinally extending shoulders 31 formed on each of the bar sections H, H, and H3.

The fabric manipulating mechanism described may be operated to enable the heel tabs to be knit to the edges of a stocking at the instep line and the complete foot portion to be knit to the central portion of the fabric blank. Where the heel tabs are to be knit first the operation of the various transfer bar sections will be carried out as illustrated in Figs. 6a through (if. After the stocking leg has been knit down to a selected instep line, and with the usual reinforcing thread in the edge areas to constitute the upper, high splice heel portion, the operation of the knitting needles is stopped. All sections of the transfer bar are then looked together and lowered through their respective actyating mechanisms to engage the needle bank and remove therefrom the full width of the instep course of loops. After being raised the sections are unlocked as their further operation will be independent. The cooperative action of the various sections of the transfer bar in removing the entire fabric from the needle is illustrated in Fig. 611. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the needle bank moves downwardly on its reciprocating carriage while the presser bar engages the needle beards to press off the fabric loop and the transfer point bar sections are lowered. On the next upward movement of the needle bank the loops are forced off on to the transfer points which then rise. The first part of such operation is shown in Fig. 8a.

Since the ,heel tabs are to be knit first the central instep area of the fabric must be removed transversely out of range of the knitting needles, which means that the central area of the instep course must be drawn out of alignment with the edge portions. It has been impractical to attempt to remove just the central portion of the course and shift the same transversely while the edge areas to which the heel tabs are to be knit Ill impaled thereon is shifted forwardly slightly out of range of the knitting needles, and then the edge bar sections replace the edge areas of the fabric on to the needle bank. The operative position of the parts represented in Fig. 6b will be better understood from Fig. 817.

After the edge bar sections I2 and 13 have been lowered to replace the heel fabric on the needles, they rise again and shift laterally well away from the line of knitting. This is illustrated in Fig. 60,

it being understood that the shifting of the bar sections is effected through actuating rod 23 and toothed operating arms 2|.

The knitting of the heel tabs is started and carried out in a generally conventional manner,

with narrowing at the lower corners of the heel through the employment of conventional narrowing tackle not illustrated). As successive courses of the heel tabs are knit the center transfer bar section holding the instep fabric is carried forwardly as the leg fabric is taken up by a conventional take up bar. This is shown in Fig. 6d.

After the heel tabs have been completed they can be cast off the needle bank and folded forwardly out of range of the needles. Prior to replacing the instep fabric on the needles it is desirable to knit a dozen or so courses of fabric corresponding to the width of the opposing portions of the foot sole, with a view of facilitating the seaming of the rear ends of the foot sole portions to the inner selvage portions of the heel tabs after the stocking blank has been completely knitted. When this has been done. as illustrated in Fig. 6c the center bar section II moves rearwardly, drawing the instep back to the line of knitting. The center section is then lowered on to the needles. while the needle bank moves upwardly and then lowers to cause the fabric loops to be drawn on on to the transfer points. The center bar section is now raised and moved forwardly completely out of range of the needle bank.

The foot portion is now knit on to the instep fabric as shown in Fig. 6]. To enable the fashioning of the toe, special split narrowing tackle understood to those skilled in the art will be provided on the machine and brought into operation at the appropriate time. When the toe has been completed the foot portion may be cast off the needles and the stocking blank is completed.

The completed stocking blank is illustrated in Fig. 9 and as will be understood from the description of the various manufacturing stages the heel tabs are knit integrally with the edge areas of the stocking at the instep line, while the foot portion, although wider than the heel is knit independently of and separate from the heel tabs in connection with the central area of the stocking blank at the instep line. The inner salvage edges of the heel tabs are then seamed to the rear ends of the foot sole portions. at which time the extra courses which were knit during the operating stage shown in-Fig. 6e are removed.

The mechanism of the invention maybe operated to produce the complete foot before the heel tabs by reversing the order of operation at various stages of the center and edge transfer bars and proceeding as illustrated in Figs. 7a-7f instead of according to Figs. 6a-6f. Again however in the first operating stage the complete width of the stocking after being knit to the instep line will be removed from the needle bank,

Fig. 7a being indentical with Fig. 6a. In the next stage, Fig. 7b, the edge transfer bars I2, l3, will shift transversely to withdraw the incompleted heel areas out of operation range of the needles, and the center bar l2 will thereupon return the instep fabric to the needles and then shift well forwardly of the needle bank. The complete foot portion will then be knit in the manner previously referred to in connection with Fig. SI of the alternative process. Before the center ba'r drops the instep fabric on the needles a dozen or so courses will be knit independently of the blank to constitute surplus end fabric for the two sole sections of the foot. As the knitting of the 'foot progresses the edge transfer bars carrying the edge areas of the instep course will gradually move forwardly as the stocking is drawn away from the needle bank by the take up mechanism until the full foot has been knit, as shown in Fig. 7c.

After the foot has been completed, it will be cast off the needles and folded back out of the way. The edge transfer bars I2, l3, will then shift back to the needle bank as represented in Fig. 7d and drop to replace the edge fabric areas on the needles. Meanwhile the instep bar section II stays out of range. The relative positions of the respective bar sections in the stage of Fig. id is further illustrated in Fig. 811.

After replacing the edge fabric the edge transfer bars move well forwardly as shown in Fig. 7c. The heel tabs are then begun as in Fig. 7e

and knit with the narrowing at their lower ends and in Fig. 7f they are shown completed and about to be cast off the needles. after which the stocking is ready to be removed from the machine.

It is common practice to knit different stockings with insteps of varying width. This necessitates increasing and decreasing the number of transfer points operating in the central instep area of the stocking blank. Provision to this end is made in my transfer mechanism as shown in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4. The center transfer bar section II consists of two point car rying members a and b of suitable length supported in alignment by a backing plate 38 to which the bracket I! is secured. The members a and b may be arranged end to end where a stocking has a narrow instep. Such members however are adjustably supported on plate 38 so that they may be spaced apart for the reception of an additional member c of selected length carrying additional points to increase the operative lengths of the center bar II for use in connection with stockings having wider insteps. It is desirable to provide a number of members 0 havin different numbers of transfer points so that stockings with all standard or special width insteps may be completed in the knitting machine.

All of the point carrying members constituting the center bar section II may be secured by screws to the supporting plate 38. As shown in Fig. 4 the plate is provided with a whole series of threaded holes to provide for longitudinal adtudinally adjustable. Their supporting brackets l4 may to this end be provided at their extremities with enlargements in the form of elongated plates 39 having a series of threaded holes, similar to those provided in the center bar backing plate 38, to which the respective bar sections l2 and i3 may be adjustably secured by screws in proper longitudinally spaced relation with each other to accommodate the independently operating center bar section II between their opposing ends.

It will be evident from the description herein given and the illustrative drawings that I have provided a novel method for manipulating different transverse areas of a fabric to enable independent fabric extensions to be knit to the several areas on the same machine, and also novel mechanism combinable as an attachment with a knitting machine to obtain such results.

While the invention in its various phases and features has been described as particularly applied to full fashioned hosiery manufacture and in certain specific forms, itisunderstood that the same has a wider range of utility and that the apparatus may be modified to a considerable degree within the scope of the invention as claimed. I claim:

l. The method of knitting, a complete stocking blank on a single fiat machine which includes knitting the stocking leg and heel down to the line defining the beginning of the foot and heel tabs, raising the entire blank from the knitting needles, and thereafter in independent operations returning the heel portion of the blank to the needles and knitting the heel tabs and returning the central instep portion to the needles and knitting the foot.

2. The method of knitting a full fashioned stocking on a single flat machine which includes knitting the leg and upper portion of the heel down to the instep, then preparatory to knitting the heel tabs as an extension of the side edge areas of the incompleted heel portion and the stocking foot as an extension of the central instep portion of the blank removing the stocking blank from the knitting needles, transferring back on to the needles one of said portions and knitting the corresponding extension thereon while retaining the other portion out of engagement with the needles, then after completion of said first extension returning said other portion to the knitting needles and knitting the remaining extension to complete the stocking blank.

3. The method of knitting a full fashioned stocking on a single fiat machine which includes knitting the leg and upper heel portion down to the course from which the heel tabs are to be knit, and thereafter in separate operations knitting the stocking foot as an extension of the central instep portion of the blank and knitting the heel tabs in extension of the side edge areas of the incompleted heel portion, the blank after being knit to said course being removed from the knitting needles, one of said portions of the blank then being .returned to the needles and the corresponding extension knit thereto, thereafter the other of said portions at said course being returned to the needles and the remaining extension knit to the same.

4. The method of knitting a full fashioned stocking on a single flat machine which includes knitting the stocking blank down to the instep, then removing the blank from the knitting needles, returning to the needles from which they were removed the side edge areas of the blank and knitting thereon the heel tabs while retaining the central instep area of the blank away from the line of knitting, then after completion of the heel tabs returning the central instep area to the central group of needles and knitting the stocking foot.

5. The method of knitting a full fashioned stocking on a single flat machine which includes knitting the stocking blank down to the instep and then removing the whole last knit course from the knitting needles, then restoring to the needles the portion of said course in the central instep area while withholding from the needles the side edge areas of the blank, knitting the stocking foot to the central insteparea, thereafter restoring to the needles the side edge portions of the course originally removed and knitting thereto the heel tabs.

6. A knitting machine having a straight bank of needles, and fabric manipulating means com-. prising a central group of transfer points operable to engage and withdraw the central instep portion of a stocking being knit, and spaced side groups of additional transfer points arranged at opposite ends of said central group and engageable with the edge areas of the stocking beyond the instep fabric, said central group and side groups of points being operable simultaneously to withdraw the entire stocking blank from the knitting needles and one being operable independently to restore the area, of the fabric engaged thereby to the needles while the other withholds the adjoining fabric area out of engagement with the needles.

7. A flat knitting machine having a straight bank of needles, and fabric manipulating mechanism comprising a central group of transfer points operable to engage and remove from the needles the central portion of a fabric blank being knit, side groups of additional transfer points arranged at opposite ends of said central group and operable to engage and remove the edge areasof the fabric, and means providing for selective movement of the central group andthe sidegroups of points transversely of the operating line of the needles independently of one another so as to permit the return of one area of the fabric to the needles forfurther knitting while the adjoining area is withheld from the needles.

, 8. A flat knitting machine having astraight bank of needles, andfabric manipulating mechanism comprising a plurality of selectively operable transfer bar sections each supporting a row of fabric engaging transfer points and cooperativewith groups of needles of the bank to remove different transverse areas of the fabric therefrom, different of the transfer bar sections being independently mounted to shift the portions of the fabric engaged by each away from the line of knitting, and said different sections being operable to return the areas of fabric engaged by each to the needles independently of each other.

9. In combination with a fiat knitting machine having a straight needle bank, means comprising aligned and longitudinally spaced transfer point bars mounted in operative relation to the needle bank but movable as a unit transversely away from the needle bank to remove spaced areas of a fabric blank being knit out of the operating range of the needles and to withhold such areas from the needles during the knitting of additional fabric on to the portion of fabric blank lying between said bars.

10. In combination with a flat knitting machine having a straight needle bank and adaptselected fabric course.

ed to the knitting of a full fashioned stocking, means adapted to permit the knitting of a complete foot portion on to the stocking instep and comprising aligned and longitudinally spaced transfer bars supported in operative relation to the needle bank and operable in unison during the knitting of the sole and upper portion of a stocking foot on to the stocking instep portion to remove, withhold from the knitting needles and, thereafter, to return to the needles the edge areas of the stocking blank adjoining each side of the stocking instep portion.

11. In combination with a machine for knitting full fashioned stockings having a straight needle bank, means comprising a row of transfer points and a supporting bar therefor for removing from and for returning to the needle bank the instep of a stocking, means for removing from and for returning to the needle bank the edge areas of the stocking which extend adjacent the instep comprising additional rows of transfer points independent of the instep row of points and supporting means therefor arranged one adjacent each end of the instep row of transferpoints in alignment therewith, the instep row of points and the rows of points engageable with the edge fabric areas being mounted for movement along parallel paths in a direction transverse to the needle bank and the instep points being mounted for movement independently of the adjacent transfer points.

12. In combination with a machine for knitting full' fashioned stockings having a straight needle. bank transfer means comprising a row of transfer points and a supporting bar therefor for removing from and for returning to the needle bank the instep of a stocking, independently movable transfer means comprising separate additional rows of transfer points arranged end to end with the instep rowfor removing from and returning to the needle bank the areas of the stocking adjacent the instep, and means for manipulating the instep transfer points and the additional rows of transfer points and providing for movement of the instep points independent of the movement of the additional rows of points.

13. In combination with a fiat knitting machine having a straight needle bank, means comprising an aligned series of transfer points for withdrawing incompleted fabric at a selected course from the needle bank, said series of transfer points being divided to include different independent adjacent groups-movable selectively one without another into and out of engagement with said needle bank, and supporting means for different groups providing for manipulation of a part of the selected course of the fabric by one group of transfer points independently of r the operation of an adjacent group of transfer points which works in an adjoining area of the 14. A fabric manipulating attachment forfiat knitting machines comprising a plural section transfer bar having transfer points engageable with different groups of needles of the machine to withdraw and replace thereon different transverse portions of a fabric being-knit, and means whereby different sections of'the transfer bar are independently supported for independent operative movement to and away from the line of needles.

15. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a straight transferbar having a plurality of separate sections carrying transfer points adapted to remove from and replace on another for independent bodily shifting movement away from and back to their line of common alignment to selectively shift different transverse areas of a fabric being knit away from and back to the line of knitting.

17. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a movable center transfer point bar section and movable side transfer bar sections mounted independent of the center bar section at opposite ends of the center bar section in alignment therewith, means for shifting the center bar section transversely of the common line independently of the side bar sections, and

means for shifting the 'side bar sections transversely of the common line independently of the center bar section;

18. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a center transfer point bar section and a plurality of side transfer point bar sections arranged in alignment therewith, and operating means whereby the center'bar section and the side bar sections may be shifted, the center bar section selectively and independently of the side bar sections, into and out of their plane of alignment.

19. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a center bar section, and a plurality of :side bar sections, transfer points rigidly supported in each of the bar sections, said side bar sections being mounted at opposite ends ofthe center bar section and being separable therefrom, means for moving said center bar section independently and separately of side bar sections in a horizontal plane, and means for moving said bar sections in a vertical plane.

20. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a center bar section, and a plurality of side bar sections each rigidly supporting a row of transfer points, said side bar sections being mounted at opposite ends of the center bar section and adjacent thereto, the center bar being mounted for shifting movement relative to the side bar sections, and the side bar sections also being mounted for shifting movement.

21. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a center transfer bar section and a plurality of side transfer bar sections each carrying a row of transfer points, said side transfer bar sections being mounted at opposite ends of the center bar section independently thereof for movement transverse to the plane of the cen ter bar section, and the center bar section being mounted for transverse movement independent of the side bar sections.

22. A transfer bar for flat knitting machines composed of a center bar section, and a plurality of additional bar sections arranged end to end and in alignment withthe center bar section, a row of transfer points in each section, the several additional sections being interconnected and mounted for simultaneous movement as an aligned unit transversely and independently of the center bar section.

23. A transfer bar for flat knitting machines composed of a center barsectio'n. and a plurality of additional bar. sections arranged end to end and in alignment with the center bar section, a row of transfer points carried by each of the aligned bar sections, and mountingmeans supporting the center bar section for transverse movement relative to and independently of the additional bar sections.

24. A transfer bar including a supporting plate, a plurality of separable members eachcarrying a row of transfer points and adjustably supportable by the plate with their points in alignment in variable spaced relation to receive centrally between their opposing ends additional transfer point carrying means-of different lengths to adjust the length of the transfer bar as a whole, means adjustably securing the separable point carrying members to the supporting plate, and means to secure an additional point carrying member of selected length centrally of the plate with its points in alignment with the points of the separable members.

25. A transfer bar for fiat knitting machines composed of a center bar section, and side bar sections arranged end to end with the center bar section and mounted for movement independently thereof, rows of transfer points carried by each of the bar sections, the center bar section being lengthwise adjustable and adapted to receive additional transfer points to increase the length of the row of points carried thereby, the side bar sections being supported for adjustment longitudinally to accommodate changes in length of the center bar section.

26; A transfer bar for flat knitting machines composed of a center'bar section, a plurality of transfer point carrying side bar sections arranged end to end with the center bar section and mounted for movement independently thereof, the center bar section including a mounting supporting a plurality of permanent members carrying aligned rows of transfer points and providing for longitudinal adjustment of said permanent point carrying members relative to the mounting so that an additional point carrying member of selected length may be added at the central portion of the mounting between the permanent point carrying members to vary the operative length of the center bar section, and supporting means for the side bar sections providing for longitudinal adjustment thereof in accordance with variations in length of the center bar section.

2'7. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising separate aligned transfer bar sections, and mounting means providing for vertical movement of the various sections relative to the operating line of the needles, and means providing for the selective bodily shifting of different bar. sections to and away from each other transversely to and away from their aligned position.

28. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a straight transfer point bar composed of a plurality of separate sections, mounting means providing for simultaneous vertical movement of different of the bar sections, and means for selectively bodily shifting said different bar sections to and away from each other into and out of their aligned position.

29. An attachment for flat knitting machines comprising a straight transfer point bar made up of independent aligned sections, said sections being capable of operation as an aligned unit and also being selectively bodily shiftable to and away from each other transversely to and away from their aligned position.

'30. In combination with a knitting machine having a straight needle bank, fabric manipulating means comprising spaced side transfer point bars and a middle transfer point bar positioned intermediate the side bars, all cooperative with the needle bank both to remove from the line of knitting and replace on the needle bank the central and edge areas'of a fabric being knit, supporting means for the side transfer point bars and independent supporting means for the middle point bar, the several independent supporting means providing for independent movement of their transfer point bars away from and back to the line of the needles so that additional fabric may be knit on the side areas and the central area of the fabric in different operations with one portion of the fabric withheld from the needles by transfer points while additional fabric is being knit onto another portion of the fabric.

31. A transfer bar for flat knitting machines comprising a center bar section and-side bar sections each carrying a row of transfer points and arranged end to end in alignment, supporting means for the, several sections providing fen movement of the center bar section independently of the side bar sections to and away from their common line to permit selective operation thereof, and means adjustable'to interconnect the side bar sections to the center bar section with the transfer points of the various sections in alignment for operation as a unit. I

' 32. In combination with a knitting machine having a needle bank;a plurality of bars carrying sets of transfer points cooperative with different areas of the needle bank, said transfer bars being cooperative to remove fabric from said different needle bank areas, and said transfer bars being operative independently of one another and at different times to replace on the same needles of the bank the fabric removed by the respective bars.

LEWIS THOMPSON. 

